NZ role in Tokelau suspensions questioned in High Court

A Tokelau High Court judge has questioned New Zealand's role in the controversial suspension of two public servants in Tokelau.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The comments were made during a landmark hearing of the territory's High Court, which sat in Wellington on Monday and Tuesday.

Jovilisi Suveinakama and Heto Puka were blamed by Tokelau's government for mis-spending millions of dollars on helicopters and were fired in 2017 after investigations into their conduct.

The pair, who are suing the government and ulu, or leader, over their dismissals, were initially suspended days after a request from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to Tokelau's government.

The letter, from Jonathan Kings, an MFAT official, said "it would provide New Zealand with greater confidence" in Tokelau if the pair were suspended while they were being investigated. The letter's contents were first reported by RNZ Pacific in 2017.

On Tuesday, Judge Peter Churchman said it looked like the request from Mr Kings was the only reason Mr Suveinakama and Mr Puka had been suspended.